40m Pixie - bench test went well

Well, it took a super-human effort on my part as a result of my extreme fatigue (brain bleed issue) but today I bench tested the little 40m Pixie kit I managed to build earlier this week. It is hard to explain just how exhausting this simple task was for me currently. I now need to recover my energy!

On receive a 1uV signal was perfectly readable and I could detect carrier on/off down to at least below 0.5uV. On TX it was putting out about 250mW into a 50 ohm load. On my antenna it was suffering some AM breakthrough, but less than I was expecting. I was using standard Walkman stereo headphones and a rechargeable 12V sealed lead acid battery. On a small 9V battery I'd expect about 100mW RF out, although this was not tried.

Overall, these results exceeded my expectations: it is more sensitive than I was expecting and the breakthrough of AM broadcasters is certainly OK in the day time. This is of course with no casing at all and no ATU. Using the fitted pot and fitted 1N4001 as a varicap it is easy to get the TX frequency and RX frequency to correspond, often an issue with very simple QRP rigs.

Next stage will be some on-air tests, but it most definitely works. Working the locals should certainly be possible. Sked with G6ALB (3km) arranged for 1000z Sunday on 7.023MHz CW.

UPDATE 2120z:  There is a contest in full swing and several Russians and Asiatic Russians copied on the little 40m Pixie. I did not stay on long but there was no apparent BC interference noticeable. So, on a quiet night I should able to use the rig in the evenings. The main issue on RX seems to be the lack of AF filtering, so one has to use "the filter that is between the ears" i.e.the brain.

Amateur Radio Weekly

Yesterday I subscribed to this online newsletter. It is also available every Saturday on www.amateurradio.com

One of the items was about Deutche Welle (German broadcaster) vacating a slot in the 49m band. A group of radio amateurs have obtained permission to use a 10kW commercial station there. This is their website http://www.channel292.de/ . Best of luck to them!

10m USA spots today

KZ8C (6290km) was the first North American to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR today at 1248z. Since then, K9AN (6505km) has also spotted me several times. I think he has a very good RX set-up as he is often copying me on 10m.

I have the feeling there will be a lot of 10m spots today as conditions seem quite good and it is the weekend.

UPDATE 2035z:   The last USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR was KB9AMG (6300km) at 1922z. Quite a decently long opening today.

9H1US

My little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied 8 times so far today in Malta by 9H1US (2135km). No great DX , but a first time and new country on 10m WSPR. Some reports have been very strong. F2 or Es?

UPDATE 2050z:  In the end 9H1US spotted me 14 times over the lunchtime period. The last spot was 1336z. This could have been Es, but more probably F2 propagation

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 28th

Sunspot number has risen slightly to 58 today and 10m propagation is set to be "fair". this is a better forecast than recent days.

Already, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in LZ, OH, SV9 and 4X1 this morning, but nothing from further afield, as yet.

UPDATE 1114z:  10m does seem livelier than of late. LZ1OI (2153km) has been spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR very well. This must be an optimum distance for single hop F2 propagation.   I've just been spotted in Malta (9H).

UPDATE 1126z:  First DX outside Europe today as when I was spotted  by PU2UIB (9524km) in Brazil at 1112z today.

UPDATE 1230z:  No North American stations copying my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, as yet, but the first reports will probably be in the next hour.

New online shop - creative wire artwork

Gifts for the XYL?

From my French daughter-in-law:

Hi there,
I have finally come around to opening my shop on easy. Spread the word. Hope you like it. 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SurleWire?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Frog 40m transceiver

This is the Pixie's "big brother". I have mentioned it before in this blog. It has more power than the Pixie and a better RX.  It costs just over £15 with free shipping from Hong Kong. Some suppliers sell it built for this sort of price! This is a real bargain.

I think it uses an NE602, with an attenuator pot in the receiver.

The image is on the eBay page and will be removed immediately if a problem.

See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Frog-Sounds-HAM-Radio-QRP-Kit-Telegraph-CW-Transceiver-Receiver-Radio-Station-V3-/251405614850 .

See also: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/qrp-transceiver for lots of QRP transceiver bargains.

40m Pixie transceiver

Yesterday I found my rechargeable 12V battery and charged it up. I also checked the Pixie I built as a kit for dry joints and shorts. As all looks good, I hope to test this on the air over the weekend or early next week.

There are a couple of locals I'd like to test with initially, although I am expecting to suffer from AM breakthrough mainly from broadcast stations very close to our 40m band. Probably there would be less breakthrough in the daytime? My antenna is short and low on 40m (a Par triband end-fed covering 10m/20m/40m) so any contacts will be good!

I can test it first on a signal generator and then a power meter. If it works, I'd expect a sensitivity of around -100dBm and a power out of around 200mW on 40m. We'll see. Even -80dBm and 100mW would be enough to work locals as long as AM breakthrough is at a manageable level.

Cerebellum brain bleed update

Many of you know I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 and was in hospital for 3.5 months. Slowly I am recovering, but it is taking much longer than I expected.

Amateur radio field experiments and building work are on hold, but I hope to resume these soon as long as my fatigue improves.

The main issue is I get tired quickly,  especially after anything that is physical. Even small things leave me exhausted, quite unlike anything I have known. I still feel drunk when I walk, my speech is poor and drinking thin liquids is not easy. The profound tiredness really gets me down. It would be so good to be able to drink a cup of tea or coffee, or even a glass of water, as I used to.

Most foods are OK now.

All limbs, eyes, ears and intellect are fine. I still feel unwell and not my old self yet. Although recovering slowly, it is taking far too long.

10m USA WSPR spots

At 1314z K9AN (6505km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. With the lower sunspot number I had some doubt the 10m band would open to the USA today at all.

UPDATE 1400z:    W9HLY (6257km) has spotted me a couple times this lunchtime, but I have the feeling there are few stations spotting me today on 10m WSPR.  OK, it is very early afternoon still.

UPDATE 1655z:   A surprising number of USA stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon this afternoon, despite the relatively low sunspot number. When the next peak occurs it is likely to be a weak affair, but assuming conditions are settled we could still be spanning the Atlantic on 10m at the right time of year. It will be interesting to see how well this path holds up as the sunspot number continues to fall.

UPDATE 1732z:  Still being spotted in the USA

UPDATE 1822z:   K9AN (6505km) is still spotting me.

UPDATE 1830z:   Still plenty of USA and Canadian 10m stations spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon. This is a much better opening than I expected.

UPDATE 1940z:  It looks like the last USA spot was KC1AWS (5408km) at 1850z. Just local G4IKZ since then. I'll probably go QRT shortly on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2120z:  I went QRT at 2058z. I am currently not active on any band.  Back after breakfast.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has declined to 39 and 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor". Looks like we could have a struggle on 10m today.

UPDATE 1126z:  10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon from LZ1OI (2153km) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) this morning.  4X1RF (3519km) was copying me earlier.  These are probably single hop F2.

Homebrew rigs, fieldwork and fatigue

Quite a few of the rigs I use are home-built, although my recent poor health has stopped me being able to build much. The 40m Pixie kit built this week was the first thing built since before my brain bleed.

Although I feel I now have the dexterity to build rigs and accessories - case work is more of an issue - doing so makes me very very tired and I have to rest to recover my energy.

I hope to resume some field work soon, but the main risk is my fatigue: can I manage being in the field for any length of time without being totally exhausted? Given time, I am told that my energy levels will return, but I have the feeling the medics really have little idea how I shall end up. To them, I have already recovered well, whereas I know I am still a million miles from how I was!

10m SSB with the Lincoln Mk2

This afternoon, I have been trying out the President Lincoln Mk2 (V3) which arrived early today. I have only tried on SSB but it seems to work, with the first SSB QSO being with N8II in West Virginia at about 1430z. He was using 800W and a 5 element beam! It was hearing plenty from Asia, Europe and North/South America. Maximum claimed power from the Lincoln, controlled by a rotary control on the front panel, is 31W  PEP on SSB.

Lincoln Mk2 with the other rigs

I have still to fully get to grips with the menu but it seems pretty intuitive.  There is a choice of display backlight colours, but I find green easiest on the eyes. The other choices are blue and orange. You can alter display brightness and lots of other features - I shall have plenty of time to play.  Blue is not good for my eyes on either the Lincoln Mk2  or the FT817. To my eyes, blue is hard to see, whereas the green is very clear.

My biggest issue was getting the power leads attached to the PSU.  Before my stroke this would have been trivial.  Now it tires me out! I wanted several rigs attached to the PSU at the same time so soldering the plugs on was non-trivial. As you know, speaking too long exhausts me,so I am taking a break.

I am waiting for my 12V battery to charge to test the 40m Pixie. Visually the Pixie build looks fine.

At the moment I am not on WSPR on any band.

472kHz WSPR

Although I was on 472kHz overnight, my PC decided to close (the whole PC including WSPR) some time after 0320z to install updates. It was re-synced to internet time and restarted at breakfast time.  Wednesday overnight is usually when this happens. I could alter settings but this is not really an issue.

Local G4KPX (14km) is spotting me this morning so far on this band. G3WCB (101km) and G3THQ (88km) were spotting me just before the PC turned off.

President Lincoln Mk2 (v3) arrives

Still to be unpacked, the Lincoln Mk2 10m transceiver arrived from Nevada this morning by "signed for" parcel post. Packaging was undamaged. I shall probably fire this up later today. Delivery was fast - impressive.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 63. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" although 4X1RF (3519km) was spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR at 0824z and 0912z this morning. Most spots were local - G4IKZ. No continental Europeans or further afield though.

UPDATE 1025z:   4X1RF (3519km) is now spotting my 500mW WSPR lots of times.

UPDATE 1050z:  LZ and SV9 now spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m as well. Things are warming up on 10m. Still no real DX spotting me.

Invisible disabilities

I have come to the conclusion that it is better to be disabled in a visible way than  have a disability that cannot be seen easily. On a walk this afternoon at Anglesey Abbey there were quite a few people who were clearly disabled.

My wife says when I walk you cannot tell I have a disability. Inside, I still feel like I am drunk, I tire easily and I still feel wobbly when walking.  My voice is still poor and swallow of thin liquids is poor.

Most people think I am fine now. I am still a long way from that although I still feel I am making slow improvements.  My current disability is invisible to many.

The ongoing after-effects of my cerebellum brain bleed are the reason I try to avoid too much speaking on the air. WSPR is my favourite mode as no talking is needed. JT65 and JT9-1 are my favourite 2-way digital modes. Although I have used PSK31 I don't much like it as too many use macros.

10m USA non-event (almost) today

This afternoon, 10m only just opened to the USA with WB5B (8248km) being the only USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon at 1350z and 1612z.  It is still possible others may yet copy me, but this is doubtful.  

4X1RF (3519km) has copied me several times today.

UPDATE 1710z:  K9AN (6505km) has copied me a few times recently.
 
UPDATE 1740z:  Now KG6MC (6545km) is spotting me. Maybe I should expect shorter, later openings now?

UPDATE 1835z:  K9AN has now copied my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 14 times so far today. The opening I thought would not happen seems to be on now.

UPDATE 1915z:   No further DX spots since K9AN at 1844z.  Going QRT on 10m by 2000z.

10m WSPR this morning

No earth shattering DX reports this morning on 10m WSPR.

4X1RF (3519km) has spotted by 500mW WSPR beacon several times but no further reports seen. At the moment, 10m is "ticking along". I think there will be an opening to the USA later.

Other blog updated

After my U3AC course on digital mapping in Cambridge yesterday I was able to take a photo of "The Round"  which dates back to 1130AD.  I have updated my other blog to include this. See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/   .

This is not amateur radio! Sorry.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has risen to 63 but 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor".

Pixie (40m) build completed this evening

Completed 40m Pixie assembly

This evening, I completed the build of the 40m Pixie PCB assembly. It will get checked over for dry joints or shorts in the morning and air-tested shortly.

A very half-hearted attempt at the 6m UKAC this evening was aborted because of my poor voice but I only worked 3 locals in the short time I was on with my V2000 vertical.

I really wanted to crack on with the Pixie build, although I was not expecting to finish the built today.  The small PCB based kit does represent very good value.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

Since returning to 472kHz WSPR at teatime, 6 unique spots so far received this evening.  No new stations logging me but on the whole decent reports being received. I'll probably remain on 472kHz overnight, but go QRT again on 28MHz (10m) WSPR as I think I've missed any DX for today.  Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" and about 5mW ERP (or less).

Unique 472kHz WSPR spot in first 2 hrs this evening

UPDATE 2300z:  Now 12 unique spots of my 5mW WSPR this evening with best DX report from F59706  (560km).

50MHz UKAC this evening

Starting at 2000z, the monthly UK activity contest takes place on 6m. I only have a vertical for 6m and my voice is still poor.  However, I'll come on briefly to see what I can work before my voice says stop. I may be only able to give a few points out to the locals.

10m - too late?

I turned on my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon just after 1700z, but only local G4IKZ spotting me. If the band did open to the USA I missed it today!

40m WSPR

For the last day (nearly) I have been WSPRing on 40m using about 2-2.5W from the FT817 into the low Par triband 10/20/40m end fed antenna. On 40m this is far too low, although on 10m it is probably just high enough. Despite the low height on 40m I have received 31 unique spots with best DX being K3BXO (7190km). Since about 20 minutes ago I have gone back on 472kHz (earth-electrode "antenna") and 28MHz (10m) WSPR on the Par end-fed.

Unique WSPR spots on 40m today/yesterday

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has fallen again to 44 and 10m propagation is "poor". For the first time since way back last year (summer?) I have NOT been on 10m today yet, as I needed the triband antenna for some 40m WSPR tests.

BTW, in the end I have ordered a 10m President Lincoln Mk2 (V3) from Nevada Radio here in the UK. The Pixie (40m) should be finished tomorrow as I had no opportunity yesterday and today. I also need to find my small rechargeable 12v battery and charge it. I suspect 50Hz hum would be a problem on the shack PSU.

President Lincoln Mk2 (V3) - 2 year warranty period

Not only has the price of this 10m transceiver dropped to £199, but John Gordon of Nevada has confirmed that the warranty period on these transceivers is 2 years. I am seriously tempted.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 49 and 10m propagation is described as "poor". Despite this, my little 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was being copied in W.Australia earlier this afternoon.

10m conditions are changing

This afternoon,VK6DF (13606km) in West Australia spotted my 500mW WSPR signal at 1404z. The band opened to the USA,WB5B (8248km) but very late at 1550z.

10m conditions do seem to be changing.

UPDATE 1844z:  The last USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon was KD6RF (7547km) 1736z.

QRT on 10m now, on 160m WSPR now and overnight

The 10m beacon has been turned off until after breakfast tomorrow, but the 160m WSPR station is still running and will remain on overnight.

Later tomorrow I will probably try a different band, most likely 40m on the Par end-fed triband antenna. It will be this antenna that my 40m Pixie will be tried on. On 40m this antenna is quite low so further WSPR tests will be useful.   As this triband antenna is also the antenna used on 10m I shall have to go QRT on 10m when I fire up on 40m.  This probably won't be until early evening Monday.

Pixie (40m) progress

40m Pixie kit

Pixie kit - being built

After carefully unpacking this kit today I checked all the parts were there and measured all values for correctness. The kit was very well packed and everything was there. Even at the price I paid ($10 with shipping by air included) it represents very good value.

The kit comes with a nice silk screened and well labelled PCB, crystal, all parts, schematic and a parts list. It would be hard to buy the bits for the price I paid. G1KQH paid even less!

I now realise that for close-up work I need better glasses!  Fortunately I have a small assembly aid that includes a magnifying glass. I am taking the build slowly and it is quite exhausting for me.  However, the actual assembly is going well. Last year, for me, this would have been impossible. I can still solder - big steps, HI.

Although the Pixie will be tested on the air, the important personal test is the building. It proves that, with some effort on my part, the world of experimental amateur radio is still there for me. You have no idea what this small step means to me.

Before too long I want to get out in the countryside and try again with my VLF and optical tests. It has been a long long long time.

Sunspots, 10m and transatlantic DX

Sunspot number today is 53 but 10m propagation remains "poor". At the moment here, conditions on 10m are better than yesterday. The 10m band is open to the USA.

UPDATE 1506z:  There are far more USA and Canadian stations copying my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today than yesterday.

UPDATE 1946z:   The last USA station to spot me today was W8EMD (6211km) at 1840z. The first today was K9AN (6505km) at 1304z.

10m WSPR spots today - Sun Feb 22nd 2015

The first spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon from a USA station today was K9AN (6505km) at 1304z. Conditions on 10m do seem better than yesterday which was pretty dire.

160m this evening so far

At the moment the best DX on WSPR TX ths evening using my FT817 (3 blobs) into the earth-electrode "antenna" in the garden is 853km to Denmark.

So far, since trying my earth-electrode "antenna" on 160m, I have received WSPR spots (reports) from 37 unique stations and results have well exceeded all expectations. Best TX DX the night before last was northern Spain.

Testing time - 40m Pixie

Tomorrow I am going to try to build my little 40m Pixie kit that I bought for just over £7 from China. This build is an attempt to see if I am "up to the job". I know the limited performance the Pixie is capable of and on 40m BC breakthrough may be a major issue here in the UK.

I really really miss doing real building and truly experimental amateur radio. This is a step on a long road. My health has been so poor in the last 16 months or so that there was no way I could have attempted this before. People have been very kind and offered me building help and help with antenna erection. These offers have come from all over the world - the world is filled with good and very kind people. There are far more good and kind people than evil ones.

By normal standards a little Pixie build would be trivial. For me it is a major step and test of my current abilities. I do so hope I can manage this! Please don't laugh - to me it is a major step.

10m USA spots today

It has been a "bad hair day" on 10m today.

The first USA station to spot my 500mW beacon was at 1610z (very late) by WG2Z (5600km). This reminds me of the brief 6m F2 openings to the USA many years ago. To be honest, I was beginning to think that an opening to the USA would not happen at all today. In a few months we'll be on the look-out for multi-hop Es across the Atlantic in the Es season.

UPDATE 1808z:   Only 2 USA stations have spotted my 500mW beacon today with K9AN (6505km) at 1754z.  I suspect conditions are changing.

UPDATE 1940z:   It now seems that the 1902z spot by K9AN of my 500mW 10m beacon was the last today by a station in the USA.  Since then, just local UK spots.

UPDATE 2010z:   Now going QRT on 10m.  Still active on 160m WSPR where I have received 36 unique spots using my earth-electrode "antenna".

President Lincoln Mk 2 (V3)?

As the price has dropped to £199 (a drop of £50) from Nevada I am now very tempted to buy one of these as 10m is my favourite band of all.  It is just coming up to the Es season too. Power output is ideal (for me) and it does all modes. I owned the original Lincoln President transceiver and it served me well for many years.  It worked all over the place on SSB and even on 10m AM.

This is basically a CB radio with bells and whistles, although as delivered it is 10m amateur band only. It covers CB bands with a simple, illegal in UK, mod.

Anyone any views?

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 21st 2015

Sunspot number has dropped back a bit. Today the number is 53. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor".

UPDATE 1202z:   Best DX on WSPR with  my 500mW beacon this morning was just now with YV7DX (7294km) copying me at 1156z.  Several spots earlier from LZ, SV4, SV9 and 4X1. Conditions on 10m don't look "poor" to me!  I am also being spotted by local G stations.

My little W5OLF WSPR-AXE-CW 10m beacon is just brilliant! I love it. So small and perfect.

31 unique 160m reports received

Since trying my earth-electrode "antenna" on 160m, I have received WSPR spots from 31 unique stations so far in just a couple of days and nights at 2-2.5W from the FT817 rig. Results have certainly exceeded my own expectations. It says a lot about how effective WSPR is.

160m WSPR TX with earth-electrode "antenna"